[Greenbuilding] replacement window discussion

[Alan Abrams]

one reason good old-timey windows (and old woodwork in general) have lasted
so long is because of the lead paint they were coated with. I confronted
this issue some time ago, in a house built in the early 1920's. delicate
muntins, wavy glass, uh huh, but goo-gobs of paint, and barely operable.

So I pulled out all the sashes and slathered on coat after coat of stripper
(selecting the product with the most dire warning), not only on the sashes,
but also in the tracks. I got things pretty close to bare wood, and then
primed and reassembled everything.

and Lo!, after sliding a sash up and down a few times, I could still turn
the lead test swab pink, from dust accumulating on the stool. The test kits
don't tell you how intense the contamination is, and I doubt if it was
highly significant. But instead being able to claim a lead-free result, I
had to disclose the presence of lead, however miniscule it was.

the point being, there are issues beyond energy efficiency at stake here.

-aa

Alan Abrams

*certified professional building designer, AIBDcertified passive house
consultant, PHIUS*
*certified passive house builder, PHIUS*
cell     202-437-8583
alan at abramsdesignbuild.com
HELICON WORKS *Achitecture and Education*
<http://www.heliconworks.com/index2.html>

On Wed, Sep 23, 2015 at 2:08 PM, Sacie Lambertson <
sacie.lambertson at gmail.com> wrote:

> Having purchased an old 1883 intact with most of its originals inside and
> out, we are eventually going to be facing the question of the windows.  I
> plan to gut the house and do double wall construction a la passiv haus.
> The windows for those are triple glazed and vastly expensive.  Some argue
> double glazed with the 'insulating' shades is about as good as a triple
> glazed window.  And some of you mention special shutters as an alternative
> too.
>
> I would like to read a further discussion on the merits of the various
> approaches, particularly useful from those engaged in a scientific approach
> like John Straube or Bob Klahn.
>
> We're a long way from the project, but are beginning to consider some
> details.
>
> thanks,  Sacie
>
> _______________________________________________
> Greenbuilding mailing list
> to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
> Greenbuilding at bioenergylists.org
>
> to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
>
> http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_lists.bioenergylists.org
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.bioenergylists.org/pipermail/greenbuilding_lists.bioenergylists.org/attachments/20150923/c76be4f4/attachment.html>